It’s the diagnosis that nobody ever wants to hear, but unfortunately, oral cancer is the eleventh most common type of cancer in the world. Oral cancers can be difficult to diagnose, and treatment is always most effective in its early stages, but the good news is there are things you can do to drastically reduce your risk of mouth cancer. What Is Oral Cancer? Mouth cancer is defined as any cancerous growths presenting in the oral cavity. This includes the lips, cheeks, gums, tongue, tonsils, and the upper part of the throat. Oral cancers can spread through the soft tissues of the mouth, causing ..read more

If you’re keeping up with your dental hygiene—and hopefully you are!—then you’re familiar with how routine dental cleanings keep your smile white and your teeth free of destructive plaque and tartar. However, family dentistry clinics can perform far more detailed cleaning than what is necessary for basic oral health. Some patients require deep teeth cleaning that encompasses more than just a simple brush and polish. Dental deep cleanings aren’t a typical service you need often and are usually reserved for patients struggling with gum disease. Dental Cleanings: What Are the Types? Dental cleani ..read more

If you forget to brush before you go to bed, you might wake up feeling like your teeth are “fuzzy” or rough to the touch. This sensation is a buildup of plaque, which, if not removed, can solidify into tartar on your teeth. Tartar is the hard, calcified byproduct of decay-causing bacteria, and besides being unsightly, is one of the earliest tooth decay stages. What Is Tartar on Teeth? Tartar, also called dental calculus, is a mixture of proteins, sugars, and carbs from the food we eat along with harmful bacteria that feed on these nutrients. The initial form of this calculus is called plaque ..read more

Tooth infections are no one’s idea of a good time. They can be painful, smelly, and are a sign that something isn’t right with your oral health—but they can also be downright dangerous. Untreated tooth and mouth infections get worse over time, and can potentially spread toxic substances to other parts of your body with dangerous results. The good news is there are plenty of simple things you can add to your daily oral health care routine to prevent tooth infections from endangering your mouth. What Is a Tooth Infection? Tooth infections occur when bacteria access the soft tissues underneath th ..read more

When teeth are damaged or decayed to the point they cannot be saved or are otherwise knocked out or “avulsed,” dental implants are the safest and best option for restoring your smile. However, even artificial teeth need to be properly cared for to prolong their durability and prevent future dental issues from endangering your oral health. Let’s take a look at five pieces of dentist-approved advice for optimal dental implant care. What Are Dental Implants? Dental implants can look different depending on the problems they’re intended to fix. There are similarities between dental implants vs crow ..read more

Cavity fillings are modern dental miracles, allowing dentists to stop dental decay before it progresses too far and repair the damage that’s been done—with a completely invisible result. Often, simple fillings can prevent the need for major restorative dental procedures later in life. Cavity filling procedures are quick, painless, and cost-effective methods of fixing tooth decay, with plenty of options for materials, making them the preferred method for tooth decay restoration. What Is a Cavity Filling Procedure? Cavity fillings—or just “fillings”—are a method of stopping tooth decay stages ea ..read more

They’re the age-old subject of warnings from your dentist and one of the most common instances of early-stage tooth decay, but what does a cavity look like? Millions of people experience cavities every year, and while most people understand from an early age that they’re bad for your oral health, there are some common misconceptions about what they are and how to prevent cavities. What Is a Cavity and How Common Are They? Cavities are essentially small holes in your teeth that penetrate the hard layer of enamel, allowing bacteria and other harmful substances to access the inner structures of t ..read more

Dental crowns are a type of restorative dentistry procedure designed to remove damaged enamel and save your natural tooth from further decay, which could result in it needing to be fully extracted. While dental crowns are safe and have a proven track record in dental applications, teeth treated with crowns are not invulnerable to further decay or accompanying pain. In fact, crowned teeth are just as susceptible to pain, sensitivity, and infection as untreated teeth. If your tooth still hurts after crown placement, there could be several reasons why—but don’t worry! There are plenty of treatmen ..read more

If you’ve received dental implant surgery, the chances are that you’ve lived with painful, decayed, or missing teeth for a while now. Dental implants are the only treatment that can fully restore your ability to function as if you had your full set of original teeth and have the longest lifespan of restoration treatments. But before you can get back to eating, smiling, and talking without worry, there’s one more hurdle to overcome: the time it takes for your mouth to heal after surgery. During this time, your diet will have to change to accommodate the implant and ensure that the surgery site ..read more

As hard and strong as our teeth are, certain forces can cause them to chip, crack, or even break completely. Instances like these can be painful in the moment and embarrassing to live with afterward—nobody wants to walk around with a piece of their smile missing! However, modern dental medicine and equipment provide plenty of methods for treating a broken tooth. What Causes Broken Teeth? You might think of a broken tooth only happening from acute trauma, like an accidental fall, impact from a ball or thrown object, or even a fistfight. However, teeth can crack or break for plenty of different ..read more